About the Charley Awards

The Charley Awards are named after two remarkable individuals who left an unforgettable legacy: Charley Oldfather and Charles Lown.

Charley Oldfather was not only a respected professor of law at KU and the university’s attorney at one point, but he was also a man who truly loved the arts. His talent as an actor graced both film and stage, and alongside his wife, Tincey, they became two of the theatre’s most beloved supporters. It’s why our lobby bears their name—the Tincey Oldfather Lobby—a testament to their enduring commitment to Theatre Lawrence.

Charles Lown was a former master drill sergeant in the Marines who also earned a Ph.D. in technical theater at the University of Kansas. He was known for his no-nonsense, rigorous approach to teaching, ensuring that his students learned the craft with precision and discipline. After his retirement, he revealed a softer side, becoming our Technical Director here at Theatre Lawrence, a role he filled with the same passion and dedication—but as a volunteer.

Charley Oldfather and Charles Lown embodied two vital aspects of theater—the creative and the technical. They shared not just a deep love for the theater, which they communicated to everyone they encountered, but also, and perhaps just as importantly, a great love for ice-cold martinis.